Effects of Creep Feed Pellet Diameter on Suckling and Nursery Pig Performance

Transcription

1 Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports Volume Issue 7 Swine Day Article January 05 Effects of Creep Feed Pellet Diameter on Suckling and Nursery Pig Performance A. B. Clark Kansas State University, Manhattan, abclark@k-state.edu J. A. De Jong Kansas State University, Manhattan, jadejong@k-state.edu J. M. DeRouchey Kansas State University, Manhattan, jderouch@k-state.edu M. D. Tokach Kansas State University, Manhattan, mtokach@k-state.edu See next page for additional authors Follow this and additional works at: Part of the Other Animal Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Clark, A. B.; De Jong, J. A.; DeRouchey, J. M.; Tokach, M. D.; Dritz, S. S.; Goodband, R. D.; and Woodworth, J. C. (05) "Effects of Creep Feed Pellet Diameter on Suckling and Nursery Pig Performance," Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: Vol. : Iss This report is brought to you for free and open access by New Prairie Press. It has been accepted for inclusion in Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports by an authorized administrator of New Prairie Press. Copyright January 05 Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service. Contents of this publication may be freely reproduced for educational purposes. All other rights reserved. Brand names appearing in this publication are for product identification purposes only. K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

2 Effects of Creep Feed Pellet Diameter on Suckling and Nursery Pig Performance Abstract A total of 6 litters of pigs (PIC 7 050; initially 7. lb and 0 d of age) were used in a -d growth trial to evaluate the effects of creep feed pellet diameter on suckling pig and subsequent nursery pig growth performance. On d 0 of the suckling phase, sows and their litters were allotted to one of two dietary treatments by parity and pig weight in a completely randomized design with replications per treatment. Starting on d 0, pigs were fed the same creep feed formulation, but pelleted using either a /8 in. (small) or / in. (large) die. Chromic oxide was included in the diets as a fecal marker, and fecal swabs were taken twice a day on d 4, 7, and to determine the percentage of pigs that were consuming creep feed. On d, pigs were weaned, re-allotted to nursery treatments for d, and fed in two phases. Phase (d 0 to 7 postweaning) treatment diets were the same diets as fed during the suckling period, with 50% of the pigs remaining on their previously allotted pellet diameter treatment. The other 50% of pigs were re-allotted to the opposite pellet diameter treatment in the nursery, creating a factorial with the main effects of pellet diameter during suckling and pellet diameter during the nursery phase. A common meal Phase diet (d 7 to ) was fed to all pigs. During the suckling phase (d 0 to ), litters of pigs fed the large creep feed pellet had decreased (P < 0.0) pre-weaning mortality and tended (P < 0.06) to have greater litter BW gain and litter ADG. There were no significant differences observed in pig BW, pig BW gain, litter CV, or pigs identified as creep feed eaters. From d 7 to of suckling, pigs fed the large creep feed pellet had increased (P < 0.05) average daily creep feed intake. During the nursery phase, no interactions were observed for Phase (d 0 to 7) when experimental diets were fed. Feeding a large pellet during the nursery phase, regardless of previous creep feed treatment, increased (P < 0.05) ADFI from d 0 to 4, 4 to 7, and 0 to 7. Pigs fed the large pellet in the suckling phase, regardless of pellet diameter fed during the nursery phase, had improved (P < 0.0) ADG from d 0 to 7 after weaning. Results from this study indicate that feeding a large creep feed pellet may be correlated with reduced preweaning mortality. However, there is no improvement on individual suckling pig growth performance or percentage of pigs eating creep feed between feeding either a small or large diameter pellet. Feeding a large creep feed pellet improved F/G for the entire nursery phase, and feeding a large nursery pellet increased ADFI during the first week in the nursery. Keywords creep feeding, growth, pellet size, swine Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Cover Page Footnote Funding, wholly or in part, was provided by The National Pork Board. This Research Report article is available in Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: kaesrr/vol/iss7/

3 Authors A. B. Clark, J. A. De Jong, J. M. DeRouchey, M. D. Tokach, S. S. Dritz, R. D. Goodband, and J. C. Woodworth This Research Report article is available in Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: kaesrr/vol/iss7/

4 Swine Day 05 KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY 05 Effects of Creep Feed Pellet Diameter on Suckling and Nursery Pig Performance A. B. Clark, J. A. De Jong, J. M. DeRouchey, M. D. Tokach, S. S. Dritz, R. D. Goodband, and J. C. Woodworth Summary A total of 6 litters of pigs (PIC 7 050; initially 7. lb and 0 d of age) were used in a -d growth trial to evaluate the effects of creep feed pellet diameter on suckling pig and subsequent nursery pig growth performance. On d 0 of the suckling phase, sows and their litters were allotted to one of two dietary treatments by parity and pig weight in a completely randomized design with replications per treatment. Starting on d 0, pigs were fed the same creep feed formulation, but pelleted using either a /8 in. (small) or / in. (large) die. Chromic oxide was included in the diets as a fecal marker, and fecal swabs were taken twice a day on d 4, 7, and to determine the percentage of pigs that were consuming creep feed. On d, pigs were weaned, re-allotted to nursery treatments for d, and fed in two phases. Phase (d 0 to 7 post-weaning) treatment diets were the same diets as fed during the suckling period, with 50% of the pigs remaining on their previously allotted pellet diameter treatment. The other 50% of pigs were re-allotted to the opposite pellet diameter treatment in the nursery, creating a factorial with the main effects of pellet diameter during suckling and pellet diameter during the nursery phase. A common meal Phase diet (d 7 to ) was fed to all pigs. During the suckling phase (d 0 to ), litters of pigs fed the large creep feed pellet had decreased (P < 0.0) pre-weaning mortality and tended (P < 0.06) to have greater litter BW gain and litter ADG. There were no significant differences observed in pig BW, pig BW gain, litter CV, or pigs identified as creep feed eaters. From d 7 to of suckling, pigs fed the large creep feed pellet had increased (P < 0.05) average daily creep feed intake. During the nursery phase, no interactions were observed for Phase (d 0 to 7) when experimental diets were fed. Feeding a large pellet during the nursery phase, regardless of previous creep feed treatment, increased (P < 0.05) ADFI from d 0 to 4, 4 to 7, and 0 to 7. Pigs fed the large pellet in the suckling phase, regardless of pellet diameter fed during the nursery phase, had improved (P < 0.0) ADG from d 0 to 7 after weaning. Funding, wholly or in part, was provided by The National Pork Board. Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University.

5 Swine Day 05 Results from this study indicate that feeding a large creep feed pellet may be correlated with reduced pre-weaning mortality. However, there is no improvement on individual suckling pig growth performance or percentage of pigs eating creep feed between feeding either a small or large diameter pellet. Feeding a large creep feed pellet improved F/G for the entire nursery phase, and feeding a large nursery pellet increased ADFI during the first week in the nursery. Key words: creep feeding, growth, pellet size, swine Introduction Nursery pigs often experience a lag in growth performance when transitioning from sows milk to dry feed during weaning. The lag is caused by several factors, including the dietary and environmental stresses associated with weaning. This post-weaning challenge can be associated with suppressed performance, diarrhea, and other intestinal health problems. While compensatory gain may occur as pigs become accustomed to solid feed, previous stresses may diminish the pig s growth capacity throughout its lifetime. Therefore, feeding strategies and technologies are implemented both pre- and post-weaning to combat growth challenges in the early nursery stages. Creep feeding, or supplementing suckling pigs with dry feed, has been thought to improve post-weaning feed intake by providing pigs with an opportunity to become acclimated to feed prior to weaning. Bruininx et al. (00 ) found pigs that consume creep feed are quicker to consume feed post-weaning and experience improved growth performance. Additionally, van den Brand et al. (0 4 ) demonstrated that pigs fed a large pellet pre-weaning, as compared to a small pellet, had improved BW gain, ADFI, and improved F/G post-weaning. These data are particularly interesting and warrant further investigation because creep feed is most typically provided as a small pellet. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of creep feed pellet diameter on suckling pig performance and subsequent nursery growth performance. Procedures The Kansas State University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee approved the protocol used in this experiment. The trial was conducted at the Kansas State University Swine Teaching and Research Center in Manhattan, KS. All diets were manufactured at the O. H. Kruse Feed Technology Innovation Center at Kansas State University using a 0-horsepower pellet mill (0 HD Master Model, California Pellet Mill, San Francisco, CA). Conditioning temperature was 55 F and retention time was 45 seconds. A total of 6 sows and their litters (PIC 7 050, initially 7. lb and 0 d of age) were used in a -d experiment. On d 0 of the suckling phase, sows and their litters were allotted to one of two dietary treatments by parity and pig weight in a completely Bruininx, E. M. A. M., G. P. Binnendijk, C. M. C. van der Peet-Schwering, J. W. Schrama, L. A. den Hartog, H. Everts and A. C. Beynen. 00. Effect of feed consumption on individual feed intake characteristics and performance of group-housed weaned pigs. J. Anim. Sci. 80: van den Brand, H., D. Wamsteeker, M. Oostindjer, L. C. M. van Enckevort, A. F. B. van der Poel, B. Kemp and J. E. Bolhuis. 04. Effects of pellet diameter during and after lactation on feed intake of piglets pre- and post-weaning. J. Anim. Sci. 9:

6 Swine Day 05 randomized design, with replications per treatment. Pigs were fed the same creep feed formulation that was pelleted using either a /8 in. (small) or / in. (large) die (Table ). Length to diameter ratios for the small and large dies used were /8 in. ¼ in. and / in. in., respectively. Each farrowing crate contained a creep feeder (Rotecna Mini Hopper Pan, Rotecna SA, Spain) that allowed piglets ad libitum access to creep feed. Individual pig weights and creep feeder weights were taken on d 0, 4, 7, and of suckling to determine ADG, ADFI, and F/G. Chromic oxide was included in the diets as a fecal marker. Rectal swabs were taken at 0700 and 600 on d 4, 7, and to detect the presence of chromic oxide. Swabs were considered positive when green color was detected by visual inspection. A positive swab indicated that the pig was consuming creep feed, and that pig was subsequently considered an eater. Upon weaning at d, which coincides with nursery d 0, pigs (initially 4. ±.0 lb) previously on creep feed treatments while suckling were pooled within suckling treatment for re-allotment in the nursery. Pigs were allotted in the nursery according to BW and litter, and balanced by previously established eater/non-eater status and gender. Phase (d 0 to 7 post-weaning) treatment diets were the same diets as fed during the suckling period, with 50% of the pigs remaining on their previously allotted pellet diameter treatment. The other 50% of pigs were re-allotted to the opposite pellet diameter treatment in the nursery, creating a factorial with the main effects of previously fed creep feed pellet diameter and current nursery feed pellet diameter. A common meal Phase diet (d 7 to ) was fed to all pigs. In the nursery, there were 4 replicate pens per treatment, with 5 or 6 pigs per pen. In the nursery, pigs were weighed and feed disappearance was determined on d 0, 4, 7, 4, and. Daily feeder weights were also taken from d 0 to 7 to determine the daily consumption of feed post-weaning. Each pen (4 5 ft) contained a 4-hole, dry selffeeder and a nipple waterer to provide ad libitum access to feed and water. Data were analyzed using the PROC MIXED procedure of SAS (SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC). Litter was considered the experimental unit during the suckling portion of the study, and pen was considered as the experimental unit during the nursery portion of the study. Pairwise comparisons were used to determine differences between treatments during the suckling phase. For analysis during the nursery phase, pre-planned contrasts were utilized to determine the interaction between creep feed pellet diameter and current nursery-feed pellet diameter, as well as the main effects of creep feed pellet diameter and nursery-feed pellet diameter on nursery performance. Results were considered significant at P 0.05 and tendencies between P > 0.05 and P 0.0. Results and Discussion Dietary treatment analysis showed that formulated nutrient levels generally matched analyzed concentrations. Physical diet analysis showed that bulk density of small pellet and large pellet treatments were similar. However, the large pellet had reduced pellet durability index and increased percentage of fines (Table ).

7 Swine Day 05 During the suckling phase (d 0 to after birth), litters of pigs fed the large creep feed pellet had decreased (P < 0.0) pre-weaning mortality. Litters of pigs fed the large creep feed pellet tended (P < 0.06) to have greater litter BW gain and litter ADG, however, with no significant differences observed in pig BW gain, total, or ADG, this can likely be attributed to mortality observed in pigs fed the large creep feed pellet. No significant differences were observed in pig BW, pig BW gain, or within litter CV. No difference was observed in the percentage of pigs identified as creep feed eaters between pigs fed small (58%) or large (59%) pellets. From d 7 to of suckling, pigs fed the large creep feed pellet had increased (P < 0.05) average daily creep feed intake, but only tended (P < 0.0) to have increased average daily creep feed intake during the overall suckling phase. During the nursery phase, there were no interactions for Phase (d 0 to 7) when experimental diets were fed. However, during the common period (d 7 to ), pigs previously fed a large pellet tended (P < 0.09) to have improved ADG compared to those fed a small nursery pellet when the creep feed treatment was a small pellet, but had decreased ADG compared to those fed a small nursery pellet when the creep feed treatment was a large pellet. Feeding a large pellet during the nursery phase, regardless of previous creep feed treatment, increased (P < 0.05) ADFI from d 0 to 4, 4 to 7, and 0 to 7. Additionally, feeding a small pellet during the suckling phase, regardless of nursery treatment, tended (P < 0.06) to increase ADFI from d 0 to 4. Pigs fed the large pellet in the suckling phase, regardless of pellet diameter fed during the nursery phase, had improved (P < 0.0) ADG from d 0 to 7. However, pigs fed the small pellet in the suckling phase, regardless of pellet diameter fed during the nursery phase, tended (P < 0.08) to have increased ADFI from d 4 to. When pigs were fed a common diet from d 7 to, as well as during the overall (d 0 to ) nursery period, F/G was improved (P < 0.0) in pigs fed a large pellet during the suckling phase. Results from this study indicate that feeding a large creep feed pellet may be correlated with reduced pre-weaning mortality. However, there is no improvement on individual suckling pig growth performance or percentage of pigs eating creep feed between feeding a small- or large-diameter pellet. Feeding a large creep feed pellet improved F/G for the entire nursery phase, and feeding a large nursery pellet increased ADFI during the first week in the nursery. In conclusion, no benefit was observed in using a small pellet for the creep feed or initial nursery diet, with any performance advantages found favoring the larger diameter pellet. 4

8 Swine Day 05 Table. Diet composition (as-fed basis) Item Phase Phase Ingredient, % Corn Soybean meal (48% CP) Fish meal Blood meal.5 HP Dried whey Whey permeate 5.00 Oat groats 0.00 Choice white grease 4.00 Calcium phosphate (% P) Limestone Sodium chloride L-Lysine-HCL DL-methionine L-threonine L-tryptophan 0.0 L-valine 0.08 Trace mineral premix Vitamin premix Choline chloride (60%) 0.04 Zinc oxide Vitamin E, 0,000 IU 0.05 Phytase Chromium oxide 0.05 Total continued 5

9 Swine Day 05 Table. Diet composition (as-fed basis) Item Phase Phase Calculated composition Standardized ileal digestible amino acids, % Lys.40.5 Ile:lys Leu:lys 0 5 Met:lys 7 5 Met & cys:lys Thr:lys 6 64 Trp:lys Val:lys Total lys, % ME, kcal/lb,644,489 SID Lys:ME, g/mcal CP, %.. Ca, % P, % Available P, % Diets were manufactured at the O. H. Kruse Feed Technology and Innovation Center at Kansas State University, Manhattan. Phase formulation was used for both small and large pellet treatments fed in both the suckling and nursery portions of the experiment. Hamlet Protein, Findley, OH. 4 Ronozyme HiPhos (GT) 700 (DSM Nutritional Products, Parsippany, NJ) provided 6.0 phytase units (FTU)/lb of diet with a release of 0.0% available P. Table. Physical analysis of diets (as-fed basis) Item /8 in. pellets / in. pellets Common phase Bulk density, g/pint Percentage fines, % Pellet durability index, % A composite sample consisting of four subsamples was used for analysis. Diets were manufactured at the O. H. Kruse Feed Technology and Innovation Center at Kansas State University, Manhattan. Common phase was fed in meal form. 6

10 Swine Day 05 Table. Chemical analysis of diets, (as-fed basis), Item /8 in. pellets / in. pellets Common phase Moisture, % DM, % CP, % ADF, % NDF, % Crude fiber, % Ca, % P, % Ether extract, % Starch, % Samples were analyzed at Ward Laboratories, Inc. (Kearney, Nebraska). A composite sample of four subsamples was used for analysis. 7

11 Swine Day 05 Table 4. Effects of creep feed pellet diameter on suckling pig growth performance Item /8 in. pellets / in. pellets SEM No. of litters Pigs/litter d 0 (start creep) d Mortality, %.54 a 0.00 b Litter weight, lb d 0 (start creep) d Litter BW gain, lb Total (d 0 to ) x 9. y.5 ADG 7.80 x 8.9 y 0.4 Pig weight, lb d 0 (start creep) d Pig BW gain, lb Total (d 0 to ) ADG Litter CV, % d 0 (start creep) d Change Pig daily creep feed intake, lb d 0 to d 4 to d 7 to 0.04 a 0.07 b 0.00 Total (d 0 to ) 0.0 x 0.04 y a,b Within a row, means without a common superscript differ, P < x,y Within a row, means without a common superscript differ, P < 0.0. A total of 6 litters of pigs (PIC 7 x 050; initially 7. lb and 0 d of age) were used to evaluate the effects of creep feed pellet diameter on suckling pig and subsequent nursery pig growth performance. Diets were fed from d 0 to after birth and differed only in pellet diameter. CV = coefficient of variation; values were determined from piglet weights within a litter. 8

12 Swine Day 05 Table 5. Effect of creep feed pellet diameter on percentage of suckling pigs consuming creep feed, Item /8 in. pellets / in. pellets Pigs consuming creep feed, % d d d a,b Within a row, means without a common superscript differ, P < A total of 6 litters of pigs (PIC 7 050; 7. lb, and 0 d of age) were used in a -d growth trial to evaluate the effects of creep feed pellet diameter on suckling pig and subsequent nursery pig growth performance. Chromic oxide was included in the diets as a fecal marker. Rectal swabs were taken at 0700 and 600 on d 4, 7, and to detect the presence of chromic oxide. Swabs were considered positive when green color was detected by visual inspection, indicating that the pig was consuming creep feed. Diets were fed from d 0 to after birth and differed only in pellet diameter. Table 6. Interactive effects of creep feed and nursery feed pellet diameter on feed intake from d 0 to 7 after weaning, Creep feed /8 in. pellets Creep feed / in. pellets Probability, P< Item ADFI, lb Nursery Nursery Nursery Nursery /8 in. pellets / in. pellets /8 in. pellets / in. pellets SEM Interaction d 0 to d 4 to d 0 to A total of pigs (initially 4. lb BW, PIC 7 050) were used in a -d study beginning on d 0 of suckling and concluding on d of the nursery. Weaning took place on d, or d 0 of the nursery period, where pigs were split within creep feed treatment and assigned to either a small (/8 in.) or large (/ in.) nursery pellet treatment fed for 7 d. During the suckling period, there were replications per treatment with approximately pigs per litter. In the nursery, there were 4 replicate pens per treatment and 5 or 6 pigs per pen. Pelleted treatment diets were fed in both the suckling (d 0 to ) and nursery (d 0 to 7 post-weaning) periods. 9

13 Swine Day 05 Table 7. Main effects of creep feed and nursery feed pellet diameter on feed intake from d 0 to 7 after weaning, Suckling Period Nursery Period Probability, P < Item /8 in. pellets / in. pellets /8 in. pellets / in. pellets SEM Suckling Nursery ADFI, lb d 0 to d 4 to d 0 to A total of pigs (PIC 7 050; initially 4. lb) were used in a -d study beginning on d 0 of suckling and concluding on d of the nursery. Weaning took place on d, or d 0 of the nursery period, where pigs were split within creep feed treatment and assigned to either a small (/8 in.) or large (/ in.) nursery pellet treatment fed for 7 d. During the suckling period, there were replications per treatment with approximately pigs per litter. In the nursery, there were 4 replicate pens per treatment and 5 or 6 pigs per pen. Pelleted treatment diets were fed in both the suckling (d 0 to ) and nursery (d 0 to 7 post-weaning) periods. Table 8. Interactive effects of creep feed pellet diameter and nursery pellet diameter on nursery pig growth performance, Item d 0 to 7 Creep feed /8 in. pellets Creep feed / in. pellets Probability, P< Nursery Nursery Nursery Nursery /8 in. pellets / in. pellets /8 in. pellets / in. pellets SEM Interaction ADG, lb ADFI, lb F/G d 7 to ADG, lb ADFI, lb F/G Overall (d 0 to ) ADG, lb ADFI, lb F/G A total of pigs (PIC 7 050, initially 4. lb) were used in a -d study beginning on d 0 of suckling and concluding on d of the nursery. Weaning took place on d, or d 0 of the nursery period, where pigs were split within creep feed treatment and assigned to either a small (/8 in.) or large (/ in.) nursery pellet treatment fed for 7 d. Treatment diets were fed in one phase with a common phase diet. Phase (d 0 to 7 post-weaning) was fed in pelleted form. Phase (d 7 to post-weaning) was fed in meal form. 0

14 Swine Day 05 Table 9. Main effects of creep feed pellet diameter and nursery pellet diameter on nursery pig growth performance, Suckling period Nursery period Probability, P < Item /8 in. pellets / in. pellets /8 in. pellets / in. pellets SEM Suckling Nursery d 0 to 7 ADG, lb ADFI, lb F/G d 7 to ADG, lb ADFI, lb F/G Overall (d 0 to ) ADG, lb ADFI, lb F/G A total of pigs (PIC 7 050; initially 4. lb) were used in a -d study beginning on d 0 of suckling and concluding on d of the nursery. Weaning took place on d, or d 0 of the nursery period, where pigs were split within creep feed treatment and assigned to either a small (/8 in.) or large (/ in.) nursery phase one pellet treatment. Treatment diets were fed in one phase with a common phase diet. Phase (d 0 to 7 post-weaning) was fed in pelleted form. Phase (d 7 to post-weaning) was fed in meal form.